RFM69HCW transceiver won't initialize on Arduino Nano

Projects Networking, Protocols, and Devices
1

I'm trying to simply listen to all broadcasts on an Adafruit 433mHz RFM69HCW transceiver. The basic client program for the RF69 on the Radiohead library always fails to initialize (i.e. prints 'init failed'), and changing the init statement to

while (!rf69.init());

only makes it hang indefinitely. I'm using this antenna. The wire connections are as follows:

Transceiver - > Nano

Vin - > 3.3V (though it doesn't work on 5V either)

Gnd - > Gnd

FN - > D10

G0 - > D3

SCK - > D13

MISO - > D12

MOSI - > D11

CS -> D4

RST -> D2

The basic script for RadioHead client is here

// rf69_client.pde
// -*- mode: C++ -*-
// Example sketch showing how to create a simple messageing client
// with the RH_RF69 class. RH_RF69 class does not provide for addressing or
// reliability, so you should only use RH_RF69  if you do not need the higher
// level messaging abilities.
// It is designed to work with the other example rf69_server.
// Demonstrates the use of AES encryption, setting the frequency and modem 
// configuration
// Tested on Moteino with RFM69 http://lowpowerlab.com/moteino/
// Tested on miniWireless with RFM69 www.anarduino.com/miniwireless
// Tested on Teensy 3.1 with RF69 on PJRC breakout board

#include <SPI.h>
#include <RH_RF69.h>

// Singleton instance of the radio driver
RH_RF69 rf69;
//RH_RF69 rf69(15, 16); // For RF69 on PJRC breakout board with Teensy 3.1
//RH_RF69 rf69(4, 2); // For MoteinoMEGA https://lowpowerlab.com/shop/moteinomega
//RH_RF69 rf69(8, 7); // Adafruit Feather 32u4

void setup() 
{
  Serial.begin(9600);
  while (!Serial) 
    ;
  if (!rf69.init())
    Serial.println("init failed");
  // Defaults after init are 434.0MHz, modulation GFSK_Rb250Fd250, +13dbM (for low power module)
  // No encryption
  if (!rf69.setFrequency(433.0))
    Serial.println("setFrequency failed");

  // If you are using a high power RF69 eg RFM69HW, you *must* set a Tx power with the
  // ishighpowermodule flag set like this:
  //rf69.setTxPower(14, true);

  // The encryption key has to be the same as the one in the server
  uint8_t key[] = { 0x01, 0x02, 0x03, 0x04, 0x05, 0x06, 0x07, 0x08,
                    0x01, 0x02, 0x03, 0x04, 0x05, 0x06, 0x07, 0x08};
  rf69.setEncryptionKey(key);
}


void loop()
{
  Serial.println("Sending to rf69_server");
  // Send a message to rf69_server
  uint8_t data[] = "Hello World!";
  rf69.send(data, sizeof(data));
  
  rf69.waitPacketSent();
  // Now wait for a reply
  uint8_t buf[RH_RF69_MAX_MESSAGE_LEN];
  uint8_t len = sizeof(buf);

  if (rf69.waitAvailableTimeout(500))
  { 
    // Should be a reply message for us now   
    if (rf69.recv(buf, &len))
    {
      Serial.print("got reply: ");
      Serial.println((char*)buf);
    }
    else
    {
      Serial.println("recv failed");
    }
  }
  else
  {
    Serial.println("No reply, is rf69_server running?");
  }
  delay(400);
}

That does not include the change I noted above. I've also deleted the encryption, as I'm trying to intercept unencrypted bytes.

Thanks in advance!

2

Your statement about listening to all broadcasts is confusing.Do you have other transceivers of this type that are working?

I see this comment and wonder is you also read it? "All radios are sold individually and can only talk to radios of the same part number. E.g. RFM69 900 MHz can only talk to RFM69 900 MHz, LoRa 433 MHz can only talk to LoRa 433, etc.".

That means they will only receive data from radios with the part number.

Paul

3

Perhaps I didn't read closely enough. When I saw that comment, I assumed it was just warning against trying to, say, communicate between an RFM69 900 MHz and an RFM69 433 MHz, or some combination of an RFM69 and LoRa radio. I have a store-bought device broadcasting data on a 433 MHz frequency, and I assumed that, as a 433 mHz radio, it would be able to detect that broadcast. Is assumption that erroneous?

4

Jibby:
Perhaps I didn't read closely enough. When I saw that comment, I assumed it was just warning against trying to, say, communicate between an RFM69 900 MHz and an RFM69 433 MHz, or some combination of an RFM69 and LoRa radio. I have a store-bought device broadcasting data on a 433 MHz frequency, and I assumed that, as a 433 mHz radio, it would be able to detect that broadcast. Is assumption that erroneous?

Your radio probably does detect the signal, but will not process it to give you data output. Did the document also mention the need for identical encryption keys?

Paul

5

The code that I've been using did. I was really just messing around with it, and I wondered whether simply deleting the encryption key and any calls to it would work, though that was mostly wishful thinking.

6

Jibby:
I have a store-bought device broadcasting data on a 433 MHz frequency, and I assumed that, as a 433 mHz radio, it would be able to detect that broadcast. Is assumption that erroneous?

It is.

'433Mhz' radios can operate of a range of data rates and formats. For two radios to communicate they must use the same frequency, data rates and formats.